title: Appendix diameter: a predictor of wound infection after laparoscopic appendectomy.
abstract: Our aim was to investigate whether appendix diameter is an independent risk factor for wound infection in laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). Patients who underwent LA (n = 582) were grouped into those with wound infections and those without. Possible factors associated with wound infection were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. When the diameter of the appendix was greater than 15 mm, patients were 2.32 times as likely to have a wound infection (95% CI, 1.02 to 5.29; P = 0.045) than if the appendix was less than 10 mm in diameter. Patients with perforated appendices were 2.51 times as likely to have a wound infection (95% CI, 1.25 to 5.02; P = 0.010) than if the appendix was not perforated. Wound infection was associated with longer operation time, return to oral intake, and hospital stay. Appendix diameter may predict postoperative wound infection after laparoscopic appendectomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Hua
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Weu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-Te
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chin-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Ko-Li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Wei-Jei
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chih-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Po-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult